Earbuds that let you take or give charge to smartphones

49101 49101’s Changer wireless earbuds are available for pre-order through Indiegogo for $89.

The Changer wireless earbuds act as a mobile charger for headphones and other devices.

Charging goes both ways; the Changer can also draw battery from a portable device to charge itself.

49101’s Changer headphones are available for pre-order on Indiegogo for $89, the early bird price.

49101 — which is actually the name of a company and not a random slew of numbers — has just announced the Changer wireless earbuds. While these aren’t as trendy as true wireless earbuds and seem a smidge bulkier than archetypal neckband earbuds, the Changer has one novel, yet functional selling point: it can both give and receive a charge to and from your mobile devices.

The Changer seeks to rid the need for superfluous cables and supports 2A fast charging. It provides a microUSB, USB-C, and Lightning connector terminating at the end of the neckband, sheathed beneath the earbud joints. Its modular design seems neat in theory but appears clumsy in practice. However, seeing as enough people have backed it on Indiegogo, it serves to fill a need.

49101 The Changer features a modular, versatile design that allows users plenty of liberty in choosing what to charge and how.

Removing both earbuds leaves users with a versatile cable which can be used to transfer data between devices, and of course, to charge a phone. The Changer supplies 12 hours of playback and 500 hours of standby on a single charge and takes just over an hour to complete a charge cycle.

The wireless headset operates via Bluetooth 5.0 and is IPX5 water resistant. It’s made of mainly aluminum and silicone and measures 35cm long. Listeners can control music and calls via the integrated control module.

The 49101 Changer is available for pre-order through Indiegogo at an early bird price of $89. Shipping will begin in Q1 2019.